stress and development

• - GCs are required for the brain to properly organize itself
• -affects on the fetus
• --> not enough = decreased number of stress hormone receptors
• --> too much = delayed maturation of neurons and glia

different regions of the brain are sensitive to stress at different times in development and aging because of what that region is doing in terms of growth

• -programming - before birth; fundamentally shapes the brain
• -interaction - after birth; stressor interacts with established brain structures

learning impairments, drug-related behaviors, anxiety/depression

-increased:

• -amygdala volume/activity
• -GC levels
• -anxiety levels/disorders

• -riskier decision
• -sensitive to social stressors (publicly speaking)

• - decreased: hippocampal volume (memory) and neurogenesis
• - increased: GCs

REVERSIBLE!

• - prenatal and childhood stress lead to permanent effects in adulthood 
• - adult stress is reversible for adulthood

neurotoxicity hypothesis - adult work

vulnerability hypothesis - developmental work

-stress affects the hippocampus indirectly through the amygdala

• adults with closer proximity to the World Trade Center had lower gray matter volume
• -amygdala, cingulate, medial PFC, hippocampus

excess exposure to stress hormones reduces neuronal integrity and strength 

going to war changes the brain and leads to PTSD/depression

effects of stress are a result of interaction of stressors and pre-existing vulnerabilities (genetics or brain) to stress

if you already have a smaller hippocampus, you are more like to get PTSD/depression by going to war